The population of endangered Mount Graham red squirrels has increased slightly — by a mere two animals — from an estimated total of 272 squirrels in 2013 to 274 this year, state wildlife officials reported.
But even that minuscule gain is cause for optimism about the red squirrel population in the Pinaleño Mountains near Safford, they said. Mount Graham is part of the Pinaleño range.
“After seeing considerable population growth in 2013, the recovery team is encouraged to see those gains have remained and the population is stable,” said Tim Snow, non-game specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The team speculates that better cone crops are contributing to the stable squirrel population numbers.”
The Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service — partners on a recovery team for the species — conduct a red squirrel survey each fall by visiting a random sample of known sites where the squirrels store their food. They feed primarily on conifer seeds.
The red squirrel population peaked at about 550 animals in the late 1990s. It now typically ranges between 200 and 300 individuals. Habitat losses caused by fire and insect infestations and poor cone crops caused by drought are considered primary factors influencing population size.
